MAN KILLED
CROSSING SMASH TRAGEDY AT PUKERAU
CHILDREN INJURED
A shocking railway level crossing smash occurred at the Pukerau station crossing at 8.30 o’clock yesterday morning resulting in the death of the driver of a milk lorry and injuries to two children who were passengers in the lorry. The vehicle was struck by the north-bound express and carried some distance before being thrown clear. The driver and passengers were thrown out and the lorry was reduced practically to matchwood.
The driver of the lorry, who died before he could be admitted to the Gore Hospital, was
Samuel Percy Millar, aged 25, farm labourer of Pukerau, a married man with one child.
The two children who were injured were
May Hoffman, aged 12 years, daughter of Mr and Mrs John Hoffman, of Hamilton street, East Gore; severe injuries to both legs.
Lewis Hoffman, aged 7 years; slight head injuries.
Mr Millar was employed by Mr S. Edwards, of Pukerau, as a farm labourer and his duties included the taking of the milk to the dairy factory. Yesterday morning he left the farm slightly later than usual, taking with him as passengers his baby daughter, Marilyn aged 2 years, and the two Hoffman children, who were spending their holidays on the farm, Mrs Millar being a sister to Mrs Hoffman. The infant child was carried on the driver’s knees and the other two children were seated beside him.
The railway crossing is a difficult one with visibility interrupted by willows growing by the roadside. These are cut down regularly and are beginning to require their usual attention. It is stated also that the view of the railway crossing was interfered with yesterday morning by a rake of sheep trucks on the siding.
The north-bound express does not stop at Pukerau and passes through the station at a considerable speed. It appears that the driver did not observe the train until he was almost on the crossing and then hesitated fatally, practically stopping on the main track.
Observers state that the impact was tremendous and the lorry was carried in front of the engine for about 30 feet before being thrown clear on to a siding. The driver and children were thrown out earlier and lay injured beside the main line. The three children were hurled into the cattlestop, May Hoffman’s legs being crushed against the wooden planks. The baby was picked out of the cattlestops and was found by a miracle to be uninjured. Lewis Hoffman received a cut in the head, but it was not considered serious.
It was plain that Millar was very seriously injured about the head, while one leg also appeared to be broken. He was unconscious when the first person reached him, but regained consciousness a few minutes later and suffered great agony until medical attention could be obtained.
Dr J. M. Watters, of Gore, was summoned and was at the scene of the accident within half an hour. He was able to relieve the pain of the dying man and although every effort was made to save Millar’s life, he died before the ambulance could reach the hospital.
Both legs of the girl Hoffman were crushed below the knee, one being injured to such an extent that an operation with a possibility of amputation was necessary. Her condition later was serious. The head injury of the boy was not serious and he was removed to hospital also merely for observation. The baby was quite uninjured. The Hoffman children were actually homeward bound at the time of the accident as they were to connect with a conveyance to Gore at Pukerau.
Although the driver of the express applied the brakes immediately he saw the truck on the line the train could not be brought to a stop for at least 100 yards. The train was delayed for half an hour before proceeding north.
When the scene of the accident was examined later it was found that the motor lorry had been smashed to a useless heap of rubbish. Parts were strewn over a considerable area, the steering wheel being picked up 90 feet from the point of the impact, one of the mudguards 50 feet away and the other 110 feet away. The line was strewn with milk, although some of the cans were quite undamaged.
It is stated that the driver of the train gave the usual warning whistle and a further blast when he saw the lorry approaching the line. It is thought probable that Millar did not hear the first whistle on account of the noise of the engine.
The inquest was opened later before Mr Andrew Martin, J.P., district coroner, the father of the deceased, Mr Samuel Millar, giving evidence of identification. The latest reports received from the Gore Hospital last night stated that the condition of May Hoffman was improving, although she was not yet out of danger; a blood transfusion had been given during the evening. The condition of the boy, Lewis Hoffman, was satisfactory. Marilyn Millar was brought into hospital late in the day for observation as the result of the development of her bruises. -Southland Times, 29/1/1936.
CROSSING TRAGEDY
INQUEST AT GORE
VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH
“This is a very sad case. The unfortunate man evidently misjudged the distance and thought that he had stopped on the side line instead of the main line,” said the Coroner (Mr A. Martin, J.P.) at Gore yesterday in returning a verdict of accidental death at the inquest on the death of Samuel Percy Millar, aged 25, farm labourer, of Pukerau, who died on his way to the Gore Hospital on January 28 following a level crossing collision in which a milk lorry driven by Millar was struck by the Invercargill-Dunedin morning express.
Constable McPherson conducted the inquest on behalf of the police, Mr A. F. Petrie was present on behalf of the Railway Department, Mr R. B. Bannerman represented the employer of Millar and Mr S. Edwards and Mr O. J. Howells watched proceedings on behalf of Mrs Millar.
Dr J. M. Watters was the first witness. He stated that he received a call to the scene of the accident and found Millar semi-conscious and suffering severely from shock. His right leg was broken below the knee; there were extensive bruises on the left leg below the knee. There were three scalp wounds and signs of injury to the brain. The injured man was sent to hospital by ambulance, but died before arrival at the institution. Witness considered that death was due to shock and haemorrhage of the brain.
Eye-Witness’s Story. George Smith Valentine, carrier, of Pukerau, said that at 8.30 o’clock on the morning of the fatality he was in the railway yard at Pukerau. He heard the express approaching and he noticed a flock of sheep on the road near the crossing. The driver of the train sounded the whistle near the first signal south of the station. The drover of the sheep came round in front of his sheep to stop them from reaching the crossing. Witness then went to assist to push two empty trucks and just as he reached them he heard Millar approaching in the milk lorry. He could see that Millar was looking out and travelling at about 15 miles an hour. The train was then whistling a second time several chains south of the station. When about 40 yards from the crossing the train whistled for the third time and witness saw the lorry approaching the line about five or six yards away. The lorry was travelling very slowly as if the driver was prepared to stop at any moment.
“The lorry pulled up with the two front wheels over the first rail of the main line and the train struck it,” continued the witness. “I think Millar must have misjudged the distance to the main line. I ran to the scene of the accident and found Millar and two children lying north of the cattlestop beyond the crossing and one child on the cattlestop. Millar appeared to be unconscious and two of the children were crying. I rushed to the telephone to summon a doctor.” Millar had crossed two loop lines before stopping and it was probable that he thought he was stopping on one of the loops instead of the main line. He may not have seen the train as some sheep trucks on the loop line would obstruct the view.
Warning Signal. To Mr Petrie witness said that the morning was calm. An extra long warning signal had been given when the fireman saw the lorry approaching. Witness did not think that the train crew could have done anything more to avoid the accident.
John Irving Edwards, carrier, of Pukerau, said he was assisting to load wool in the station yard and his attention was drawn to the train as it passed through the station whistling. He saw Millar drive very slowly on to the main line. The train struck the lorry and witness rushed along to assist the injured passengers.
Stanley Bell Edwards, farmer, of Pukerau, said that Millar had been employed by him. When not engaged in working the team Millar took the milk to the factory. The lorry had been in good mechanical condition. Millar was a good driver.
Constable Feehly said he visited the scene of the accident within half an hour of the fatality and found Millar lying semi-conscious on a stretcher. He appeared to be in great pain. Measurements taken at the crossing showed that Millar had been picked up 52 feet from the point of impact and the lorry 34 feet away. The road at the crossing was 31 feet wide. The lorry was reduced almost to matchwood.
To Mr Bannerman witness said he had tested the visibility at the crossing and had found that a motor vehicle had to come within 32 feet of the line before a clear view could be obtained. The sheep waggons on the loop lines obstructed the view.
Speed of Train. Thomas Donaghue, engine driver, said he was the driver of the express train which struck the lorry driven by Millar. He sounded the whistle four times when approaching the station and the crossing. The fireman sounded the whistle a few yards from the crossing and told him to stop. He applied the emergency air brake and brought the train to a stop in about 200 yards. The train had been travelling at about 45 miles an hour.
Albert Edward Longley, locomotive fireman, said that when the train was within 40 or 50 yards of the crossing he noticed a motor lorry approaching and immediately sounded the whistle. The motor lorry was proceeding slowly and continued on. Witness called to the driver to apply the brakes, which he did. The lorry was struck about the cab and thrown clear to the left of the engine, pieces of wood flying in all directions. The driver of the lorry did not appear to be looking out prior to the collision.
This concluded the evidence and the Coroner returned a verdict of death from shock and haemorrhage resulting from injuries sustained when the lorry driven by Millar was struck by the Invercargill-Dunedin express at Pukerau, no blame being attachable to anyone. -Southland Times, 7/2/1936.
No comments:
Post a Comment